The paradise duck is New Zealand’s only shelduck, which means it is a rather gooselike duck
Paradise ducks or “parries” are another conservation success story. When the country was first settled, paradise duck were rare. The conversion of bush to pasture, and the creation of many stock ponds, (thousands of which were subsidised by hunters’ licence fees), has caused numbers to explode. In fact, special paradise duck hunting seasons are necessary to stop large mobs damaging farm paddocks with their grazing
Unusually for ducks, the female paradise shelduck is more eye-catching than the male; females have a pure white head and chestnut-coloured body, while males have a dark grey body and black head
Paradise shelducks are commonly observed flying in pairs or grazing on pasture
They are very vocal birds, with males giving a characteristic ‘zonk zonk’, while females make a more shrill ‘zeek zeek’ while flying or as a warning to intruders. They can often be stalked. Resist the temptation to stand up and look as you approach. Instead, pick a tall object and work your way in close remaining down and out of sight
Paddock shooting over simple homemade decoys also works well. Keep out of sight (under a camo net or camouflaged next to a fence line or bushes) and keep close to your decoys. Special parry calls are available on the market
